At the 2017 Annual Concordia Summit Mrs. Laura Bush had a conversation with the First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos and First Lady of Panama Lorena Castillo García de Varela about the role of first spouses, the value of women’s leadership, and how first spouses can be prominent voices for change around the world.
When used effectively, a first lady’s podium is a catalyst for change. Unelected but official, spouses of state and government leaders have a unique opportunity to build bridges between civil society and government institutions. Both at home and abroad, they have leveraged their influence to champion causes including social and economic inclusion, education and healthcare, peace and security, and women and children’s rights, among many others. Yet, despite this influence, there exists little research on the role of first ladies. The Bush Institute’s First Ladies Initiative aims to change that by expanding the scholarship on spouses of state leaders with A Role Without a Rulebook: The Influence and Leadership of Global First Ladies .
At the 2017 Annual Concordia Summit Mrs. Laura Bush had a conversation with the First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos and First Lady of Panama Lorena Castillo García de Varela about the role of first spouses, the value of women’s leadership, and how first spouses can be prominent voices for change around the world. Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé led the conversation. Below are some key quotes highlighting how the leadership of first ladies can and does make an impact.
Watch the conversation here. To learn more about the leadership potential of the first lady role, the common and uncommon challenges women face in realizing that potential, and how first ladies overcome those challenges to effect change read A Role Without a Rulebook: The Influence and Leadership of Global First Ladies.